Utica University’s WPNR wins Excellence in Broadcasting Award

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Utica University’s WPNR wins Excellence in Broadcasting Award

Blue and Orange Neon sign reading WPNR 90.7 Utica College Pioneer Radio

This is the second year in a row that the station has won the award in this category.

The New York State Broadcasters Association has selected WPNR-FM 90.7 Pioneer Radio, Utica University’s student-run radio station, as a recipient of its Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. WPNR earned recognition in the category Best Digital Platforms for its month-long Moose Madness social media campaign.

This is the second year in a row that the station has won the award in this category.

Debuted in March, the interactive Moose Madness campaign invited listeners to vote on staff-selected music in an NCAA basketball tournament style bracket. Following each round of the competition, the songs receiving the most votes were played during a weekly listeners’ choice show.

Natalie Trophia ’27 and Jenna Skutnik ’26 organized the campaign with support from other staff members. Alex Peckham ’26 produced the weekly show.

Now in its 60th year, the Award for Excellence in Broadcasting is a statewide competition, with stations competing in large, medium, and small markets, as well as college categories. The awards encourage professional performance and recognize outstanding achievement among stations across New York.

The WPNR staff will be presented the award in September at the New York State Broadcasters Association regional awards luncheon.